Safety inclosed switch



Apnl 28, 1925. 1,535,636

E. H. w. ULLRICH SAFETY INCLOSED SWITCH Filed FeB. 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Emil H W. U/lr/a/z ATTORNEY WITNESSES: f 0 (QM/A Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL H. W. ULLBICH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELIE'IRKG G; MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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Application filed February 21 1921. Serial No. 446,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL H. W. Unnnrori,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Yorkcity, in the count of New York and State of New York, ave

invented a. new and useful Improvement in Safety Inclosed Switches, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to switch mechanism of the inclosed safety type.

One object of my invention 1s to provide an inclosed switch mechanism wherein the cover enclosing the latter is so interlocked with the switch that opening movement of the cover is precluded so long as the switch is in closed position.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a switch mechanism wherein simple mechanism is employed for imparting a snap-action opening and closing movement to the switch.

Another object of my invention is to provides. switch mechanism wherein fusible elements constitute the switch and wherein such-elements are accessible only when the switch is in open position. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism having the above characteristics wherein the parts constituting the design and are. comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention. are attained by means of the switch mechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of the switch mechanism, showing the cover in cross-section taken on the line I--I of Fig. 2;

2 is a longitudinal section through the switch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, and showing the switch mechanism partly in section and'partly in elevation;

' Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig 2, showing the switch mechanism in open position; and

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of details of the switch mechanism.

Beferrin to the drawings the apparatus includes a liousing comprising a metal base or bottom portion 8 having upwardly extending side flanges 9 and a cover member entire structure are simple in 10 that is pressed in one piece from a sheet of metal and having side portions 11 conforming in contour to the flanges 9 of the bottom portion and adapted to telescopically fit within the fianoed portions. The cover 10 is provided with an integral top portion. 12 having a depression 13 that isprovided with an oval opening 14, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The switch mechanism includes an insulating base or panel 15 that is secured to the bottom portion 8 by means of threaded tie bolts 16 which extend from the bottom 'of the housing and project through 0 nings provided in the top portion 12. uts 17 serve to clamp the insulating base to the bottom portion, and nuts 18, that are screwed upon the upper end of the tie bolts, serve to detachably secure the cover 10 to the bottom portion 8.

The panel 15 is provided with two sets of separate contact members 19 and- 20 that are disposed side by side upon the outer face of the panel. The contact members 19 are preferably connected to the branch-line terminals 22 by means of conducting strips 23, and the contact terminals 20 are preferabl directly connected to the main line termina s 2 1. In view of the fact, however, that the switch mechanism includes fusible elements that are disconnected from the circuit when the switch is open, it is immaterial whether the terminals 19 and 20 connected as indicated or whether the contacts 19 are directly connected'to the main line terminals, and the contacts 20 connected to the branch-line terminals. I

The switch comprises a fuse carrier 25, made of insulating material, that is provided with two threaded sockets 26 in which threaded sleeves 27 are inserted. The sleeves are adapted to receive standard screw fuse plugs 28. Switch blades 29 and 31 are mounted upon the fuse carrier and so project therefrom that, when it is in closed position, the blades yieldingly engage contact members 19.and 20, respectively. The blades 29 are directly attached to the sleeves 27, and the blades 31 are connected to the screws 32, that are disposed at the center of the sockets 26, by means of extensions 33.

The circuit through the switch from the main-line terminals 24 is through the contact members 20, the blades 31, the extensions 33, the screws 32, the fusible element in the fuses 28, the sleeves 27 the switch blade members 29, the contact members 19 and the conductor strips 23 to the branch-line terminals 22. It will be seen from the foregoing that, when the switch is moved to the open position indicated in Fig. 3, the circuit through the fusible elements is disconnected.

- The fuse carrier 25, which will hereinafter be considered as the switch member, is operated by means of the following mechanism. The carrier is provided with a pivot yoke 34 that is illustrated in perspective in Fig. 6. This yoke is pivoted to an upright stand ard 35 that is secured to the bottom member 8, and the switch member turns about the pivot shaft 36 that extends through both the standard 35 and the yoke 34. The yoke is secured to the fuse carrier 25 by means of a bolt 37 that extends through the carrier. A forked arm 38 is attached to the carrier 25 by means of "a bolt 37 and is provided with two prongs 39 and 41, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

A support' member 42, illustrated in perspective in Fig. 5, is attached to the bottom portion 8 by means of screws 43. This support is made of sheet metal and is so formed as to provide a guide having perforations 44 through which the operating rod 45 extends. The outer end of the rod projects beyond the outer end of the support 42, and an operating handle or lever 46 is pivoted thereto by means of a pivot pin 47.

The lower portion of the support 42 is provided with an integral seat 48, and the side 49 of the support is provided with an oblong perforation 51 through which the switch-operating arm 52 projects to a point between the prongs 39 and 41 of the arm 38. The arm 52 is secured to the operating rod 45 by means of a pin which may be inserted in the perforation 53, (Fig. 7). The seat 48 limits the inward movement of the rod 45, and a spring 54, which is disposed between the arm 52 and the upper seat of the support, serves to normally yieldingly retain the arm 52 and, consequently, the switch member in closed position, the arm 52 in such position, being in engagement with the innermost prong 41.

The frictional engagementof the switchblade. members 29 and 31 with their respective contact members 19 and 20 is sufficient to resist ordinary forces tending to withdraw the switch-blade members from engagement with the contact members. However, the

, switch is adapted to be opened with a snapaction by means of a spring 56 that is attached, at one end, to the prong 41, and, at the' other end, to a projecting standard 57 that is secured to the operating arm 52 and moves outwardly when the operating handle 46 is pulled outwardly.

Outward movement of the standard 57 stretches the spring 56 and, when its tension sufficient to overcome the frictional resistance of the contact between the switch-blade members and their respective contact members, the switch member will be withdrawn from engagement with the contact members with a snap-action. If the blades stick, the switch will be positively opened by the arm 52, by reason of its engagement with the prong 39.

The arm and the rod 45, to which it is attached, is held in outward or openposition by means of a latch pawl 58 that is carried upon the latch arm 59, which is pivoted at 61 upon a bracket 62 that extends from the support 42. The pawl 58 is normally held in a position wherein it will be tripped by the arm 52, upon its outward movement, by the spring 63 that is secured, at one end, to the inner end of the latch 59 and, at the other end, to a screw 43. The pawl 58 projects through a perforation 64 provided in the support 42 and serves to hold the arm 52 in an open position after the switch has been moved to open position, the arm 52 at this time engaging the outer side of the pawl 58.

Theoperating lever 46 is provided with an inwardly projecting finger 65 having an end portion 66 which extends between the support 42 and the latch bar 59. When it is desired to close the switch, the operating handle 46 is moved inwardly, thereby causing lever 46 to turn about the pivot 47, which,

in turn, causes the end 66 of the finger 65 to engage the latch bar 59 and thereby withdraw the pawl 58 from engagement with the operating arm The spring 54, upon release of the arm 52, moves the arm to closed position and causes the switch member to be closed with a snap-action.

It will be seen from the foregoing that, by reason of the above-described switch-operating mechanism, the switch is moved to open position and to closed position with a snapaction.

lVhen the switch is in closed position, the outer flange of the fuse plug 28- lies within the opening 14 in an inaccessible position and, therefore. the fuses cannot be withdrawn while the switch is in closed position. When the switch is moved to open position, as indicated in Fig. 3. the flange of the fuse plug 28 is moved out of the opening 14 to a position where the flange may be ripped by the fingers of the operator and wi idrawn from the receptacle.

In order to so interlock the cover with the switch that opening movement thereof is precluded so long as the switch remains in closed position, the extension 67 is secured to the fuse carrier 25 by means of the bolt 37. This extension projects through a perforation 68 in the side llof the cover and prevents Withdrawal of the cover from the flanged portion 9 of the bottom 8 so long as the switch remains in closed position. \Vhen the switch is in open positiomas indicated in Fig. 3, the projection 67 is moved out of the perforation68, and the cover may be removed by first removing the nuts 18 from the tie bolts 16.

While I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members, a switch member for connecting the said contact members, a spring for moving the switch member into engagement with the contact members with a snap-action, means for retracting the spring,- a latch for restraining the spring, an operating handle for releasing the said latch and yielding means .for withdrawing the, switch member from the contact member when the 'said retracting means is actuated.

Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members, a switch member for connecting the said contact members, resilient means for moving the switch member into engagement with the contact members with a snap-action, a latch for restraining the resilient means, an operating means for biasing the resilient means when the switch member is moved to open position and fonreleasing the latch and a spring for yieldingly connecting the switch member with the biasingmeans.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members. aswitch member for connecting the contact members and normally retained in engagement therewith by frictional contact, yielding means for withdrawing the switch from engagement with the contact members, an operating means for biasing the yielding means whereby the switch is moved to open position with a snap-action, a second yielding means nor mally holding the switch closed adapted to be biased by the operating means when the latter is moved to open position, a latch for restraining the second yielding means when the latter is moved to the bias position, and means for releasing the latch.

4. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members, a switch memher for connecting the contact member, a support, an operating member for the switch member mounted thereon, a yielding connec tion between the, switch member and the operating member for withdrawing the switch members from engagement with the contact members with a snapaction when the frictional resistance offered by the contact members is overcome, a spring for normally retaining the operating member in closed position, latch pivoted to the su port for retaining the operating member in open position in opposition to the face of the said spring, and means associated with the operating means for releasing the said latch.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members, a switch mem her for connecting the contact members, a support, a switch-operating rod movably mounted on the said support, a spring normally holding the rod in closed position. a

\ latch movable into latch engagement with the rod when the rod is in open position, and a releasing member associated with the rod for moving the latch out of engagement with the rod to permit of closing movement thereof.

6. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of separate contact members, a switch memher for connecting the contact members. a support, a snitch-operating rod. movably mounted on the said support, a spring normally holding the rod in closed position, a latch pivoted to the slip-port for holding the rod in open position against the action of the said spring, and a releasing member pivoted to the rod for releasing the said latch to permit of closing movement of the said rod.

In testimony whereof, I have. hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of Feb ruary, 1921.

EMLL ll. TV. ULLRICH. 

